Creating A Powerful Golf Backswing

Hi, Dave Cahill here with Cahill Golf. I am at the Cimarron Golf Resort in Palm Springs, CA. Today I am going to talk about getting the golf club into the proper position at the top of the golf swing. The correct position at the top of the backswing will help you create power and accuracy.
So, instead of pushing back with our arms, we are going to let our arms get swung back. Initially, pay attention to your left arm and left shoulder. We are going to turn both our hips and shoulders back so that our left arm, swings, back on a straight line. The straight line we are swinging along is the target line. I am letting my arm get swung back. To do this you can not turn your shoulder across or it will pull it off the line. Additionally, do not lift your arms up or you will be pulled off the target line. The feeling will be that your arms are getting turned back by rotating motion of the hips and torso. It will be a nice soft feeling in your hands and in your arm. Just continue to swing as the club swings farther and farther back until you turn all the way back to the top of the swing. This will put you into that powerful position and improve the accuracy of your golf swing.

Note: Remember the center points of your hips and sternum remain stationary as the hips and shoulders rotate around the spine and perpendicular to it. For more information on this topic see Position the Spine & Shoulder Turn.

Backswing Drill

Here is a drill that will help you get into position at the top of the golf back swing. Take a short club like a pitching wedge and hold it in front of you with your left hand on top by the grip and your right-hand underneath by the head (right handed golfers). Bow over into your address position. Feel like your arms are just hanging from your shoulders. And now, by turning both the hips and the torso or shoulders we are going to make the line created by the club shaft swing straight back. Pay attention to the left arm and to the left shoulder. If you turn a little bit too much inside, the club shaft is not moving straight back on a line. If you push the arms out, the club shaft is not moving straight back on a line.

Turn the hips and shoulders so the club in your hands moves straight back on a line. As you do that you will notice it feels like your left shoulder is turning more underneath. Your hip is turning out of the way. Make the swing bigger. Let your arms just swing bigger and bigger. And now swing all the way back. Put your hands together on the grip. This is the feeling of your shoulders at the top of the backswing when they move correctly.

PGA Instructor Mike Cahill and PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill are here to help you play better and enjoy the game more. Please come see us in Palm Springs CA for golf lessons or visit us for a Palm Springs, CA or Las Vegas, NV Golf School.

PGA Instructor Mike Cahill 612-501-9015 mikecahill@cahillgolf.com

PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill 952-994-0387 davecahill@cahillgolf.com